Securing Ground Zero before the GOP convention.

[C_eh_N_eh_D_eh]

Here's an idea I had for humbling any politicians who'll try to score points off of 9/11. I won't be there myself, unfortunately.

You put out an advertisement that reads somethng like this:

"For the two weeks leading up to the 11th of September (starting August 28th), we will be holding a non-partisan, round-the-clock silent vigil in World Trade plaza. Participants are asked to stand quietly in the lot where the Twin Towers used to be, holding a flag, candle, or flowers if they wish. No political signs or slogans, please. Anyone who wishes to participate may stay for a much or as little time as they like, but we'd like to have at least 300-400 people in attendance at any one time."

You'll need to be careful not to let any protestors in, no matter what side they're on. Make it clear that there is to be no factionalism whatsoever within the plaza grounds (the "silent" part should help with that if you can make it stick). You're all Americans here, and politics stays out on the street where it belongs.

With enough community support, this is doable. Even if you only get a thousand people to join in, if you work them in shifts, that's enough to keep a sizeable crowd going 24/7. And unless every movie I've ever seen has lied to me, finding a thousand New Yorkers with nothing better to do should be a cakewalk.

Of course, to make it look good you'll have to keep it going until long after PigCon is over. And if construction on the pResidential boardwalk starts early, you may have to make it a three-week vigil starting on the 21st. But if you can get a good crowd going, and keep them under control, then no brownshirt or freeper is going to even try shoving them aside.

[mitchtv]

1. what a wonderful idea

I'm sure many would agree.

[C_eh_N_eh_D_eh]

2. Kick for the daytime crowd.

[Elidor]

3. I finally figured out your name

It used to drive me nuts, speaking it slowly, phonetically, trying to understand it. Suddenly - duh! I'm a tad slow sometimes.

Oh, and yes, it is a nice idea. Until the SS sweep in and clear the area for the preznit.

[C_eh_N_eh_D_eh]

4. In that case, tell 'em to smile for the cameras.

That's the beauty part of this idea. If the repubs (or anyone else, for that matter) want to play 9/11 for political brownie points, they'll have to resort to fascist tactics in the middle of downtown New York, and roll over on hundreds of peaceful mourners. Not even Fox News will be able to spin that away.

Of course, if the president wants to show his respect for the thousands of people who died on that terrible day three years ago, he's more than welcome to join in. He just has to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with poor people, and keep his mouth shut.